One of the sad things about the recent demise of the construction boom[1] in Dubai is that we will no longer have so many wonderful architectural renderings to show. Some come from talented starchitects jumping through architectural hoops; others like the amazing confection that was Falcon City[2], feature the Eiffel Tower, pyramids and hanging gardens of Babylon. Sigh, so many glories that will never be built.

Atkins[5] proposed the “green” Anara tower[6] with a fake wind-turbiney thing at the top to look cool but not do very much at all; we called it eco-bling.

Dubai was a hotbed of technological experimentation as well; at the Palazzo Versace, they are installing a refrigerated beach[7]. TimesOnline[8] explained:

The beach will have a network of pipes beneath the sand containing a coolant that will absorb heat from the surface. The swimming pool will be refrigerated and there are also proposals to install giant blowers to waft a gentle breeze over the beach. [They correctly noted:] The scheme is likely to infuriate environmentalists.

Another technological tour de force is the elegant Seawater Vertical Farm from Studiomobile[9]. They tell us that “the seawater vertical farm uses seawater to cool and humidify greenhouses and to convert sufficient humidity back in to fresh water to irrigate the crops.” More: Vertical Farm in Dubai Uses Seawater[10]

At one point we quoted Rachel Noble of Tourism Concern:[14] “Dubai is like a bubble world where the things that are worrying the rest of the world, like climate change, are simply ignored so that people can continue their destructive lifestyles.” And unfortunately like all bubbles, it eventually burst. We shall not see the likes of it again for some time.